#  2026 Sociology Undergraduate Thesis Prizes and Academic Awards 

 





Students receive Fulton, Hoopes, Cummings, and Rose prizes for outstanding thesis work; Five students inducted to Phi Beta Kappa; Three students accepted to American Sociological Association 2026 Honors Program



 

May 26, 2026

 

 

The department would like to congratulate the following students for their outstanding thesis work and academic achievements during the 2026 academic year:

## **Fulton Prize**

 ![Headshot of Stephanie Hu](/sites/g/files/omnuum1481/files/2026-05/Hu.png)

 

Each year the **Albert M. Fulton, Class of 1897, Prize** is presented to the senior who submits the best thesis ". . .judged by its contents," research methods, "and literary expression in the field of . . . sociology." This prize was established from a bequest of Albert M. Fulton, A.B. 1897, and includes a monetary prize.

This year's Fulton Prize was awarded to Stephanie Hu for her senior thesis, "Dressing the Nation: Neo-Chinese Fashion (新中式) and the Construction of Contemporary Chinese Identity”, advised by Prof. Sarah Halford.

## **Hoopes Prize**

The [**Thomas Temple Hoopes Prize**](https://prizes.fas.harvard.edu/hoopes-prize) is awarded to undergraduates on the basis of outstanding scholarly work or research, usually in the form of a senior thesis. It is considered the most prestigious undergraduate research award given by Harvard College. Each student winner receives a $5,000 award. Advisors of winning projects are awarded $2,000 for “excellence in the art of teaching.”

We are proud to announce the following Sociology concentrators received a Hoopes Prize for for the senior thesis work:

   ![Stella Gilbert Hoopes Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum1481/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/Gilbert.jpg?itok=G0XlPFmR) 

 

Stella Gilbert for her senior thesis, "Beyond Algorithmic Fairness: Pretrial Risk Assessments, Reform Strategies, and Orienting Toward Justice”, advised by Michael Zangler-Tishler.

   ![mendez headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum1481/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/Mendez.jpg?itok=kMM4t4__) 

 

Toño Mendez for his senior thesis, "Category Is: Drag Capital Recognition, Geography, and Politics in Boston’s Drag Scene”, advised by Prof. Joseph Wallerstein.

## **Eugene R. Cummings Senior Thesis Prize in LGBT Studies**

The **Eugene R. Cummings Prize** is award by the Harvard Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality to the best senior thesis on a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender Studies topic from any department or program at Harvard.

We are proud to announce that Sociology concentrator Toño Mendez was awarded the Cummings Prize for his senior thesis, "Category Is: Drag Capital Recognition, Geography, and Politics in Boston’s Drag Scene”, advised by Prof. Joseph Wallerstein.

## **George Peabody Gardner Traveling Fellowship**

The **George Peabody Gardner Traveling Fellowship** provides a year of purposeful postgraduate travel for a graduating Harvard College student to supplement their formal education through immersion in a foreign culture.

Toño Mendez has been awarded the 2026 fellowship for his project, *From Watching to Becoming: Learning Drag Through Vulnerability and Cultural Immersion,* which will support his transition from studying drag academically to learning and performing it through cultural immersion in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

## **Rose Award**

The **Stephen Rose Sociology Undergraduate Research Fund (Rose Award)** was established in memory of Stephen Rose, AB 2006, who studied sociology as an undergraduate at Harvard College. One of Stephen’s favorite quotes by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., states “The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” A award supports a rising senior to conduct thesis research during their senior year.

Sociology concentrator Shayna Leng was awarded the Rose Award for the 2026-2027 academic year. Leng will use her Rose Award funds to conduct senior thesis research on the history of assisted reproduction in Singapore.

## **2026 Phi Beta Kappa Inductees**

We are proud to announce that five students have been elected to Phi Beta Kappa during the 2025-2026 academic year:

**Seniors:** Stella Gilbert, Ritika Khanal, and Olivia Larsen   
**Junior 24:** Shayna Leng and Madeline Phuong

## **American Sociological Association 2026 Honors Program**

Three students have been accepted to the American Sociological Association 2026 Honors Program: Nora Ngo Mitchell, Madeline Phuong, and Jocelyn Shek.



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Department news ](/news-type/department-news)
- [ Undergraduate news ](/news-type/undergraduate-news)
 
 

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